Going to Camp Reinberg

Our Chicago home of Harding Avenue. 1948-1953

When we lived in our Harding house, there was a community recreation center just a block away from us. As kids we went to different activities, like ball games, cooking classes and craft classes. I learned how to make lanyards, and how to maker baking powder biscuits. My brothers participated in soft ball, ping pong, wood carving, or making model planes.

During the summers there was a two week camp where my brothers and I attended. It was the longest two weeks of my life! I had never been away fro my parents like that until then. I wrote home and on the weekend in between our parents came to see us. A much welcomed visit too, for sure.

Campers having a hike.

Reconstructing early Memories about Christmas:

Written December 16, 2014

A three or four year old smells the live green Christmas trees, and sees colored lights, glass ornaments and tinsel, with gifts under the tree. My mother and I went to visit (I believe) my uncle’s wife, Evangeline. She had a gift for me that was a small baby doll. This may be a stretch of imagination but perhaps this happened during the months my father was in the Army or in Chicago at that time.
The lady we visited had dark olive skin, pretty brown eyes, and had long dark hair pulled straight back in a bun in the back of her head. She had dark red nail polish on her fingernails. She spoke to me in a sweet, soft voice, was affectionate and gave me hugs and kissed me on the cheeks.
When we moved to Chicago my mother took us to see Santa Claus at a department store, likely, it was Sears. We also went into the Woolworth’s store, commonly known as a “five and dime” store. All of the stores would play Christmas songs’ like “Here Comes Santa Claus” or “Frosty, The Snowman,” sung by Gene Autry, a cowboy singer. Also the new song which came to be quite popular then with Jimmy Boyd singing, “I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus”’ I remember shopping for a gift for my mother, and picked a heart-shaped bottle of perfume, or cologne called, ‘Blue Waltz.” I still remember what it smelled like. I really liked the scent of that cologne. Christmases were very simple and without a lot of fanfare.
My Dad was a Mason. Every year we went to the Masonic Lodge Christmas programs and were given a red mesh Christmas stocking with nuts and candies in them. The hard candy was ribbon-like and some were filled with jelly or chocolate flavor inside them, with candy canes. Some of the flavors of my favorites were clove or cinnamon. Sometimes they gave out gifts like dollhouse furniture, Doctor Kit sets, or color books. My grandmothers would send us clothes we usually needed. I recall when I was about eight that I got a beautiful Madam Alexander doll, and a full size doll that stood up about 2 ½ feet tall. I was given the tall doll and my sister the smaller Madam Alexander doll. But my mother for some reason switched them and gave my sister the tall baby doll and me the Madam Alexander doll. I had that doll for many years and even saved it for my oldest daughter, who named her Maggie. I thought that was kind of neat since my maternal 2nd great-grandmother’s name was Mague. After we moved to Utah I don’t remember what happed to the doll. The larger doll would make a [whahh] sound when squeezed; the smaller doll would cry Mama, Mama when she leaned back or forward. I liked her delicate features and pretty blond curls, small teeth and rosebud red lips. She was in a blue dress and white pinafore.

My fifth grade, seventh, eighth, freshman, sophmore school picture in a flash of yester-years.

This last one is our old house my parents built when they were expecting me. San Antonio, the house that Carlos and Elena built with bricks made by him. What an accomplishment for a couple in their mid-twenties!!
A few pictures for TBT (throw back Thursday)

Today is a special day I celebrate with my family, and when we are all together we have an amazing, great feast of Heritage food, TAMALES1

We all love that tradition and it brings us closer on both sides of heaven. Enough said. I love you ALL and am so pleased to have my dear husband in my life to share that love. Hugs and kisses, everyone!!

Flashback in Time--Early Childhood Recollections, Thoughts

I think my age here is about two years old; we lived in San Antonio, Texas. Some of my earliest recollections are during the latter part of that year. My father had gone into the Army and was gone almost a year as I was told. He used to send us Hershey's chocolate almond candy bars. I remember we received a box of them from him while he was in the service. I loved eating the almonds and chocolate candy! I later discovered that because of the War (II)--sugar was rationed and not everyone could buy those Hershey's chocolate candy bars. My father bought us the treats at the Post Exchange aka the PX. The service men had the privilege of buying it unrestricted due to they were being rationed for civilians.

My mother did not drive very much at that time. So I recall going on the public transportation on the bus. She would take us into town since we lived in a rural area not far from the cement plant where my grandfather worked. My grandmother and grandfather were separated since my father was about twelve or thirteen years old. My grandmother lived farther down near town. They finalized their divorce about the time I was born. We would go see Buelito, as we called him which came from the Spanish word for grandfather, "abuelo," or "abuelito." When I was almost four my Uncle Richard built my grandmother's home on Center Street. I believe my grandfather, Richard may have provided the building of that home for her and my Aunts Celia and Helen who lived with Nane, (Nah-nee) as we called her.

Sometimes we would take the bus into town and stop at the drug store and get an ice cream come for each of us. Bea(trice) Canchola was a young cousin who worked at the drug store and made our ice cream cones for us. Mama always got me a strawberry ice cream cone``I think that was her favorite flavor. It was always a treat to go there on our way to town.

I think I was about 16 months here. I was just learning to walk at 15 months.

My mother had this photo taken for my Dad and sent it to him while he was gone in the Army. [He carried this photo in his wallet for many years with a wallet size photo of my beautiful mother]. He was a driver stationed near Portland, Oregon driving the medical corp vehicle aka an ambulance and picked up POW's from Germany and drove them to Camp Adair during the War.

P. S. I once saw a documentary about the "encampments" that housed prisoners of war who were sent to San Antonio from Japan, I believe or even Germany too. They were in makeshift tents along the sides of the road for some reason. It was something I had never imagined when I was growing up and just only discovered that this year. It is something I could research a little more to find out about that particular event.

Old School

Imagine the surprise I received on a whim to "Google" my old elementary school in Chicago. Talk about reminiscing my childhood school days. There are several memories I have of walking to William Penn Elementary School at 1616 Avers Avenue, in Chicago. I started kindergarten there and went until the beginning of the first half of fourth grade.

I have a recollection of my first day of school and waiting for one of my brothers to pick me up after my afternoon kindergarten class. No one came so I began to walk home by myself. So I thought when I realized I was lost! I took the wrong street, but they looked alike on the corner where I kept walking. I eventually found a kind lady to walk me back to where I lived. IT was ever after that I was taught and memorized my address and phone number. I remember them both to this day. .. 1544 S Harding, phone number LA 1-2869.

The kindergarten teacher, Mrs Evans gave us a small glass bottle of milk and saltine crackers each day. We colored with crayons, listened to stories, sang songs and played on the outdoor playgro. We colored, listened to stories and played on the outdoor playground. The grades 1-4 were varied teachers since had a new one for each half grade since I would be in the lower have at the second half and the upper grade half at the beginning. So it seemed like I had two teachers in one school year. My birthday was in October, so I started school in January. It was kind of interesting. Being in the lower half of the fourth grade when we left Illinois I finished the fourth grade in a matter of months from April to June. I graduated from High school at seventeen, in California.

Fond Memories of the elementary achool was Nettie L Waite in Norwalk,California.

Is His Image in Our Countenance?

Alma 5:4


And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?--

I re-read this chapter today. We attended our new ward yesterday and heard a reference of this scripture. We recently decided to attend the Spanish branch, the Virgin Valley Branch in Mesquite. We both felt a calmness in attending there. Our Area Seventy, Elder Wade spoke in Spanish. His comments were so sweet and both of us felt a sweet spirit of confirmation that we are where we are supposed to be and doing what we are supposed to be doing. The messages touch our hearts and burned upon us that no doubt existed in our decision to change wards. Our stake president was present and shook our hands as we left to go to Sunday school. He was elated to see us there as new members of the branch.

We felt welcome and ready to serve any way we are asked to do. The sister missionaries were asked to bear their testimonies. Both are native Spanish speaking; from Puerto Rico and Mexico,

(LDS) Church History Tour Excursion

This magnificent site was a must see on our tour. We were told that this is where the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be before he appears to the WORLD. Also that that entire green valley would be filled with people waiting to hear what he has to tell us.

View of Adam-Ondi-Ahman* This is such a remarkable place to see and witness for oneself. This is a huge valley located in Missouri which is noted in the Bible Dictionary to be the place of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived. . It has verdant hills and countless trees. Much of the land is owned now some 3500 acres by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This incredible site is one that has to be experienced to appreciate the feeling there of the impact of serenity filled with hope and promise. It is also the place where the Savior, Jesus Christ will come first before his Second Coming.

It is also known there as Spring Hill today. It is mentioned in the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 116:1--"Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-Ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days as spoken of by Daniel the Prophet."


We were just there to this beautiful place. We had lunch in the lovely park as it appears in the second photo with all the trees. I don't know why they (pictures) come out so small, but not like I intended them to share here.